For many U.S. firms, globalization rapidly went from being a perfunctory topic just a few years ago to becoming a new underpinning of business strategy. In fact, of the top 200 law firms in America, 70 already have an office in the United Kingdom and 66 have an office in China.

Globalization of legal services is more and more not only affecting talented graduates of prestigious law schools but also paralegals in very profound ways.

For paralegals working on international projects, their work can include preparing the preliminary research for a contract for a Saudi investment in Africa, organizing the document review before an Indonesian company markets its shares in New York or planning the next meeting in Moscow between lawyers of the firm, a British client, and Russian oligarchs.

—— Hiring? ——

In this difficult legal hiring market, according to John Conroy, chairman of Baker & McKenzie, “while some countries still hesitate to enter the global contest for legal services and talent, the competition itself is changing”.

We now see law firms based in Asia bidding for American talent, with for example, Chinese firms hiring lawyers and paralegals from the US in order to consolidate and gird themselves for international work.

—— How can we become a savvy international professional? ——

It probably begins by keeping an open mind, being ready to embrace the challenges of learning a new language or understanding varying cultural norms.

You can learn a lot in this area just by networking with colleagues, paralegal students, and members of your local paralegal association. You may find that some of them have legal experience in another country and are willing to discuss the legal system of this particular country including paralegal utilization.

You can even do your international networking from home, as you will find international paralegal groups on Linkedin, Facebook, and other social networking platforms that are ready to welcome you and engage in knowledge exchange!

—— How to get more international exposure? ——

Other good ways to get international exposure are to:

launch an international initiative with your paralegal student association by focusing on a joint activity with a paralegal students association from another country,

coordinate a fund-raising initiative at work to support a relief or development project for a local community abroad, or

take charge of the international networking of your local paralegal association.

These activities offer excellent opportunities to network directly with legal professionals from other countries. You can invite them as international speakers to present and share their knowledge on global and multicultural legal issues.

→ You will gain unique and valuable experience that may be the beginning of your international career!